My Tour de France: From serious illness to cycling the highest peaks in France

It was an early Saturday morning in July when Aleš Vaupotič got out of his home in Slovenia, started his Berlingo minivan and set off to France. He was about to start a cycling adventure he long thought about: his own 2024 Tour de France which would take him to some of the most beautiful peaks in the Alps.

Yet, only two years before this venture seemed impossible. A major heart condition threatened to erase all hope that he could ever do it.

Two years to reach the goal

- In July 2022, I ended up in hospital for heart problems. It was serious, they took me in right away. Soon I passed out and was moved to intensive care. At three in the morning, my heart stopped for 15 seconds.

He says that back then he wasn’t sure if he would ever leave the hospital, or how his recovery would go.

- I was feeling low and my family tried to lift my spirits. They wrote messages and jokes on slips of paper and made a book out of them. On one slip, they listed the peaks I had always wanted to bike to. When I left the hospital, I promised myself I would do it.

Thankfully, Aleš recovered, but it took time and persistence to regain strength. When he left the hospital, he couldn’t walk a kilometer in 45 minutes. Two years later, he could bike up the peaks in the French Alps.

My Tour de France

His own Tour de France lasted for 9 days, touching the professional Tour de France that was happening at the same time. He cycled a total of 250 kilometers.

- I started from a small town in the Alps, surrounded by peaks over 3,000 meters high. On the first day, I rode 40 kilometers uphill. Over five days, I reached five peaks in the French Alps, the highest being Col de la Bonette at 2,802 meters. It’s quite special.

Isola 2000: Meeting real fans and seeing Pogačar win

The most interesting part for him was Isola 2000, the finish line for one of the more demanding Tour de France stages.

- It was my first time watching the Tour de France live. At that peak, the best cyclist in the world, Slovenian Tadej Pogačar, was the first to finish. He went on to win the Tour de France 2024. It was amazing to be in the mountains among true fans. It’s different from being in the city. Here, you meet real cycling fans who understand the effort, Aleš revealed.

The best vacation so far

- Everything went as I planned, day after day. I made adjustments to my bike to make uphill riding easier. I’m so happy I reached my goals - climbing the peaks I wanted and experiencing the Tour de France up close. I’ve organized events in my life, but I’ve never been part of something this big. When Pogačar won, I was over the moon. It’s been the best vacation yet. I came back home feeling really fulfilled - just pure happiness, he shared.

But first, a Balkan tour

A Balkan tour in early June helped him get ready for France.

- I drove from Ljubljana to Sarajevo, cycled around Jahorina Mountain (the site of the 1984 Winter Olympics), then went to Kotor (Montenegro), and climbed Lovćen up to the Njegoš Mausoleum. After that, I cycled through Croatia to the northern Adriatic, all the way to Krk Island. The next day, I joined the Infosit team building in Poreč.

His minivan is an important asset, allowing him to set up camp while on the road.

He says he likes switchbacks, winding roads and climbs. They will take you to interesting places you can’t reach on foot. Cycling is more than something he does to stay fit and active; it helps him keep a good work-life balance.

Keeping a good balance throughout the year

- Over the years, I’ve found a good balance between work and leasure. When I was younger, it felt like I had to fix every problem and save the world. Then I realized that wasn’t possible for a million reasons. If you keep work stress-free, a short afternoon break will often be enough to recharge you, so that the next day you’re fresh and energized. I believe keeping a good balance throughout the year is much more important than how many vacation days you take.